I am considering a new mainsailfor my 86 H34. Has anyone used a fully battened main? If so what are the pros and cons? I will appreciate any suggestions. Bob
Fully Battened Mainsail
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Fully Batten
I bought one over the winter for my Legend 37. At the time I was told by the sailmaker that there would be a slightly larger roach on the new sail and it would be fully battened (4 battens). I thought about it all winter and how it would fit with my topping lift. When I bent it on this spring, there was about an 8-foot section on the leech that had about 3" overlap at it's biggest point. When I called Quantum, they said that it was natural to have the overlap and that when they design the sail, they have to account for the sail being under load. So any wind will shape the sail and curve the battens so that the leech will stay beneath the topping lift. This all made sense to me. So far, no problems. Also, using the full battens with the Dutchman System makes sail lowering/raising much more orderly than a partial-batten main.
I bought one over the winter for my Legend 37. At the time I was told by the sailmaker that there would be a slightly larger roach on the new sail and it would be fully battened (4 battens). I thought about it all winter and how it would fit with my topping lift. When I bent it on this spring, there was about an 8-foot section on the leech that had about 3" overlap at it's biggest point. When I called Quantum, they said that it was natural to have the overlap and that when they design the sail, they have to account for the sail being under load. So any wind will shape the sail and curve the battens so that the leech will stay beneath the topping lift. This all made sense to me. So far, no problems. Also, using the full battens with the Dutchman System makes sail lowering/raising much more orderly than a partial-batten main.
I like mine
Full battens shape the sail nicely and since I have no lazy jack, the full battens make getting control of a doused mainsail a lot easier.
Full battens shape the sail nicely and since I have no lazy jack, the full battens make getting control of a doused mainsail a lot easier.
full battens
Full battens allow a sail to be built with a bit more roach as pointed out. It also gives the sail a sort of built in draft shape which is both good and bad. The good part is obvious (good shape in light wind, the "look" of the sail, etc.). the bad part is that it is more difficult to determine the correct settings for your sail controls because the sail shape always "looks" good. You must depend much more on general observation as well as reading the tell-tailes. In fact I would suggest you install tell-tails in the middle of the sail as well as on the leach. A couple of other points: 1) consider installing a flaking system (I use the Dutchman). You will find countless views/arguments on the pros and cons of the various systems - lazy jacks, dutchman, stac-pac - which will serve to totally confuse you. One thing is beyond argument: with full battens having a flaking system is better then not having one. 2) A full batten main is easier to handle if you install some sort of articulating slides at the batten pockets such as "Batslides". They are expensive but with a new sail may be worth doing. I don't have them and it just isn't worth doing to my original main. Hope this helps, Good Luck.
Full battens allow a sail to be built with a bit more roach as pointed out. It also gives the sail a sort of built in draft shape which is both good and bad. The good part is obvious (good shape in light wind, the "look" of the sail, etc.). the bad part is that it is more difficult to determine the correct settings for your sail controls because the sail shape always "looks" good. You must depend much more on general observation as well as reading the tell-tailes. In fact I would suggest you install tell-tails in the middle of the sail as well as on the leach. A couple of other points: 1) consider installing a flaking system (I use the Dutchman). You will find countless views/arguments on the pros and cons of the various systems - lazy jacks, dutchman, stac-pac - which will serve to totally confuse you. One thing is beyond argument: with full battens having a flaking system is better then not having one. 2) A full batten main is easier to handle if you install some sort of articulating slides at the batten pockets such as "Batslides". They are expensive but with a new sail may be worth doing. I don't have them and it just isn't worth doing to my original main. Hope this helps, Good Luck.
Full Battens
I would have to agree with what has been said so far. On our h29.5 we have full battens with the dutchman and love it. I just got a new main this winter and discussed the pros/cons of this setup with the sailmaker (Ullman Skelley U/S in Havre de Grace, which I highly recommend) and we decided to stick with this setup with the new main. They made soem adjustments to where the dutchman guidlines ran thru the sail, and she has sailed bueatifully this season. The full battens do create a nice shape of teh sail, and the dutchman once properly adjusted is a dream. Tell tales on the leach are a must, I don't have some mid sail but could see how they could be useful.
I would have to agree with what has been said so far. On our h29.5 we have full battens with the dutchman and love it. I just got a new main this winter and discussed the pros/cons of this setup with the sailmaker (Ullman Skelley U/S in Havre de Grace, which I highly recommend) and we decided to stick with this setup with the new main. They made soem adjustments to where the dutchman guidlines ran thru the sail, and she has sailed bueatifully this season. The full battens do create a nice shape of teh sail, and the dutchman once properly adjusted is a dream. Tell tales on the leach are a must, I don't have some mid sail but could see how they could be useful.
2 things
Use gloves to avoid fiberglass splinters. Use gloves to avoid slipping into the water. I have full battens on 29.5 and love them.
Use gloves to avoid fiberglass splinters. Use gloves to avoid slipping into the water. I have full battens on 29.5 and love them.
Pat is right...
...but Paul has the wrong idea about his topping lift. Topping lifts are NOT sail controls. If you MUST have the topping lift attached to the end of your boom while you're sailing, then it should be completely slack when the vang and main sheet are on full. Better would be to move it to the mast while sailing and not have to deal with it. Best of all, get rid of it altogether and install a good solid vang. Now you've got a great new sail control.
...but Paul has the wrong idea about his topping lift. Topping lifts are NOT sail controls. If you MUST have the topping lift attached to the end of your boom while you're sailing, then it should be completely slack when the vang and main sheet are on full. Better would be to move it to the mast while sailing and not have to deal with it. Best of all, get rid of it altogether and install a good solid vang. Now you've got a great new sail control.
Topping lift not sail control
Sinbad, read Paul's response several times and couldn't see where he ever mentioned the topping lift as a sail control. He was just commenting on the possible overlap. Easy with the critique.
Sinbad, read Paul's response several times and couldn't see where he ever mentioned the topping lift as a sail control. He was just commenting on the possible overlap. Easy with the critique.
Topping Lift Loosens Leach
Since I don't have a sold vang I regularly use the topping lift to take the load off the sail to give the leach some curveature when sailing in lifht air. Without doing that the load of the boom pulls down on the sail and the leach tightens up.
Since I don't have a sold vang I regularly use the topping lift to take the load off the sail to give the leach some curveature when sailing in lifht air. Without doing that the load of the boom pulls down on the sail and the leach tightens up.
Yep, That's how topping lifts were used in the
old days when booms were wood and heavy. They helped with light-air trim. They can still be used that way, just not as often. And I have full battens on my H34. They're great. Nothing to add to the previous posts.
old days when booms were wood and heavy. They helped with light-air trim. They can still be used that way, just not as often. And I have full battens on my H34. They're great. Nothing to add to the previous posts.
Vertical Baton Main
For those of you with furling masts, I changed the OEM for a vertical batten rig. It has been fantastic. I added a gas insert in the vang which made the topping lift unnecessary. Before, the topping lift was interfering with the larger roach of the sail. If you look closely in the snap, you can see the old topping lift heading up a couple of feet inside the roach. Now, the vang supports the boom which is one of its primary functions. John Richard s/v Jack's Place ~~~__/)~~~
For those of you with furling masts, I changed the OEM for a vertical batten rig. It has been fantastic. I added a gas insert in the vang which made the topping lift unnecessary. Before, the topping lift was interfering with the larger roach of the sail. If you look closely in the snap, you can see the old topping lift heading up a couple of feet inside the roach. Now, the vang supports the boom which is one of its primary functions. John Richard s/v Jack's Place ~~~__/)~~~
Toping lift
Exactly what is wrong with using a topping lift to loosen the leach? I have a solid vang but it's worn out so I use the topping lift. Works fine for me. No matter what the wind angle, if I need to loosen the leach, I just tighten the topping lift. Now maybe if I had a full roach then I can see it getting in the way a little at sertain angles, but I don't have one. In otherwords, be careful saying general statements like Topping lift isn't a trim control because each boat is different.
Exactly what is wrong with using a topping lift to loosen the leach? I have a solid vang but it's worn out so I use the topping lift. Works fine for me. No matter what the wind angle, if I need to loosen the leach, I just tighten the topping lift. Now maybe if I had a full roach then I can see it getting in the way a little at sertain angles, but I don't have one. In otherwords, be careful saying general statements like Topping lift isn't a trim control because each boat is different.
I don't use the TL as a sail control
Now that I've sinned, Sinbad, let me reitterate. I have never used my topping lift as a sail control. Actually, I tend to loosen it when the sail is raised and use my vang for sail control. But also remember, those of us that have the Dutchman System need the TL to support the Dutchman Control Lines.
Now that I've sinned, Sinbad, let me reitterate. I have never used my topping lift as a sail control. Actually, I tend to loosen it when the sail is raised and use my vang for sail control. But also remember, those of us that have the Dutchman System need the TL to support the Dutchman Control Lines.
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